Car-coupling



(N0,Mode1.)

D. B. KELSEY.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Nov. 29,1892.

, UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

DAVID B. KELSEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,148, dated November 29, 1892.. Application filed July 25, 1892. Serial No. 441.191. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. KELSEY, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Link-and-Pin Oar- Couplings,ofwhichthefollowiugisaful1,clear,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplers; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete invention as applied to an ordinary freight-car. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the levers after the operation of coupling. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the levers before coupling. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the parts of my complete invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two of the actuating-levers,

showing their connection with each other.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the draw-pin, and Fig. 8 an end sectional view of a device for manipulating the car-coupling from the side of the car and used in connection with and forming a part of my complete invention.

The object of my invention is to simplify upon the present type of link-and-pin carcouplings, and in its operation is especially intended to obviate the danger to the operator, which is the main objection to pres ent couplings. As is well known, the operation of couplings without the necessity of the operators getting between the two cars has been greatly improved upon; but the majority of such improvements are so expensive in construction and complicated in operation that as a rule they are not practical for general use. I claim that by the use of my invention, as hereinafter set forth, that the operation of the coupling from the side of the car is absolutely certain, and that the levers, either in an engaged or disengaged position with reference to the link, cannot be altered by the jarring of the car unless it is intended that they should do so.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates an ordinary freight-car to which my invention 2 is applied. As is usual in such constructions, the necessary draw-bar 3 is made of a rectangular-shaped bar in cross-section and of a desired length, having upon its outer end an enlargements, in which the actuating mechanism is secured. Theinner end 5 is pivoted to the under side of the car in order that the outer or free end 6 has a side reciprocating motion. The extent of this motion is limited by blocks or beams 7 and 8, running longitudinally under the floor of the car, and between which the draw-bar 3 islocated. It rests upon a support or rack, (not shown in the drawings;) but it is unnecessary for me to further describe these details, as they are well known. The enlarged end 4L is provided with a cavity 9 in its upper side, forming two shoulders 10 and 11, the rear shoulder 10 having a cavity or slot 12, in which the levers are pivoted, as hereinafter described. The draw-bar is provided with a mouth or opening 13, which extends backwardly and forms an operatingchamber 14, in which one of the levers moves. An opening 14 in the hollowed-out portion 9 of the end 4 connects with the cavity 13 and provides an operatingchamber 15, in which the lever 16 operates. The mouth or opening 13 is enlarged to facilitate the entrance of the link from the opposite carin the operation of coupling. It will be noted in this connection that a similar attachment isused upon both ends of the same car, thus obviating the necessity of having different types of draw-bars upon the same car and the inconvenience attendant thereon. An opening extending vertically near the enlarged ends 6 of the draw-bar receives the pin 17, and both pin and opening 18 are of such a form, as shown in Fig. 7 of the illustration, as to prevent the locking of the pin 17 in the socket 18. The upper portion of the pin 17 is enlarged and has a slot 19, into which fits a rockinglever 20. The lever 20 is provided with a slot 21 in one end, which is slightly bent. Through this slot and coinciding perforations 22 in the head of the pin is passed akey or pivot 23. It will be noted that while this joint between the lever 20 and the pin 17 is such as to allow the free movement of both the lever 20 and the pin 17, still it is impossible for the same to become loosened or unjointed. The opposite end of the lever 20 is pivoted through a perforation 24 to two ears 25, formed with the enlarged portion 4 of the draw-bar 3. Immediately beneath said perforation 24 is a similar perforation in an L- shaped projection upon the lever and which coincides with perforations in the rocking trigger-lever 16 and through which a pivot 27is passed to secure said lever 20, by means of which said lever 20 is secured between thetwo ear-like projections 28 upon the lever 16.

The peculiar construction of the triggerlever 16 will be more readily understood by reference especially to Fig. 6 of the illustrations. It has a projecting portion 29, which is solid and of the thickness of the entire lever. It might be said that the figure consists, essentially, of three different arms projecting in three directions. Two of these arms 30 and 31 are provided with longitudinal slots which divide the same into two portions and form ears 28 upon the arm 30 and ears 32 upon the arm 31. A depression 33 is formed between the arms 29 and 31, and is practically V-shaped with the small portion of the V toward the center of the lever. The function of this construction will be explained hereinafter. Into the ears 32 is pivoted a rocking lever 34. Said lever 34 is provided with a bent projection 35 upon one of its ends, the same being the end that is pivoted between the cars 32 of the lever 16. The back end of said lever 34 is pivoted to a bell-crank lever 36, which has for its axis a pin 37, which is secured in the draw-bar fastened by suitable keys 38 in each of its ends. The lower free arm 39 of the bell-crank lever 36 is in the form of a lever-handle, as hereinafter described. Pins 40 and 41 run through the entire width of the draw-bar and are removably secured therein for the following specified purposes. Operating upon the pin 41 is a bumper-block 42, provided with a longitudinal slot 43, which allows of the reciprocating movement of the block 42.

In Fig. 3 the levers, as just described, are shown in the position of holding the link by means of the pin 17. To lift the pin 17 out of its engagement with the link 44, the leverhandle 39, located immediately under the draw-bar 3, is pressed upwardly. By reason of the connection between the lever-handle 39,the rocking lever 34, and the arm 31 of the lever 16, said lever 16 is forced upwardly from its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, until the lower extremity of the arm 31 rests upon the pin 40, secured in the draw-bar 3, where as said V-shaped portion 33 previously rested upon the pin 40. This movement pushes the bumper-block 42 outwardly by means of the arm 29, and the eccentric or cam connection between the arm 30 and the L- shaped connection upon the arm 20, and also the pivotal connection between said lever 20 and the cars 25 upon the draw-bar head 4, forces said lever 20 in an upwardly-inclined position, as best shown in Fig. 4,thereby lifting the pin 17 out of the socket l8.

esvgme The operation of the block 42 is as follows: WVhen the pin is in an upright P05113101],- as shown in Fig. 4, the device is ready to recelve the link from another car. To obviate the necessity of operating the coupler by hand each ti m e, I have provided the block 42, which when the link strikes same pushes against the arm 29 of the lever 16 and forces the same in a backward direction and allows the lever to drop over the pin 40, which fits into the depression 33. This action, by reason of the various connections between the levers 20 of the cars 25 and the arm 30, allows the pin 17 to resume its normal position.

Having fully described the construction and operation of my improved car-coupler, I will now proceed with the description of an attachment forming a part of my complete invent on, by the use of which the coupler maybe manipulated without the necessity of the operators stepping between the cars. It consists of a depending casting 45, secured to the beam 7 under the floor of the car, and has pivotally secured to its lower portion a rectangularshaped lever 46. Pivotally secured to the free end of said lever 46 is a rod 47, which projects at an upward and outward angle through the side beam 48 of the car, and 1s provided upon its end with a suitable handle 49, by means of which the device is operated. Upon the upper arm 50 of the lever 46 is an L-shaped piece 51, between which the leverhandle 39 is held. It will readily be seen by reference to Fig. 8 of the illustration that by pulling the rod 47 in an outwardly direction the lever 46 is forced up, thus also raising the handle 39, which is held in contact therewith. A tooth or projection 52 upon the rod 47, at a point near the handle 49, is adapted to fit over the outer edge of the beam 48 to prevent the rod from slipping and the pin 17 from dropping into the socket.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An improved automatic car-coupler having a pin 17 secured to the slotted end of a lever 20, the opposite end of said lever 20 pivoted in two ears 25, formed with the head of the draw-bar, a projection upon said lever 20, pivoted between two ears 28 of the arm 30 of a lever 16, a rocking lever 34, secured between two ears of the arm 31 of said lever 16, a bellcrank lever having for its axis a pin 37, secured through the draw-bar, the upper extremity of said bell-crank leverpivoted to said lever 34, the opposite extremity forming a handle 39, a V-shaped cavity in the lever 16 between the arm 29 and the arm 31, adapted to fit over a pin 40, and a block having a reciprocating movement upon a pin 41 and constructed to engage the arm 29 when the same is in a specified position, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved automatic car-coupler having atrigger-lever 16, consisting of three arms projecting in different directions, one arm 30 provided with two ears 28 and an additional end, a tooth 52 to engage the edge of said beam 48 to prevent the slipping of said rod 47, and an L-shaped attachment 51 upon the r 5 arm 50 of the lever 46, securing the lever-handle 39, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID B. KELSEY,

Witnesses:

H. S. ROBINSON, C. K. J ONES. 

